Asociace Euroregionů ČR
21.03.2023
Libor Picek, a representative of the Šumava Euroregion, was elected chairman of the Association of Euroregions of the Czech Republic until the end of 2023, and Ondřej Havlíček, executive director of the Nisa Euroregion, was elected secretary.
The event was held under the auspices of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš. The association’s bylaws and governing bodies were approved by all 13 entities that actively support cooperation among the Euroregions along all five borders where cross-border activities are carried out. These are the Czech-Austrian, Czech-Slovak, Czech-Polish, Czech-Saxon, and Czech-Bavarian borders. The Interreg 2021–2027 Program will operate in all of these border regions, and the Euroregions will serve as administrators of the Small Projects Funds. 
According to Deputy Minister Sršně, the Ministry of Regional Development (MMR) supports the activities of the Euroregions and also intends to provide assistance in the form of grants for the Association’s activities. It also expects proposals from the Euroregions aimed at improving the economic and social situation in peripheral areas. During the meeting, there were calls to establish or restart the operation of intergovernmental commissions for cross-border regions, where it is necessary to accelerate the process of addressing issues such as cross-border transportation, the functioning of the Integrated Rescue System (IZS) across borders, water retention in the landscape in the context of climate change, and effective cooperation between hospitals and healthcare providers for the benefit of patients in border regions, among other matters. As one of the new members of the National Standing Conference (NSK), the association will seek to present the activities of the organization and its individual members at the next NSK meeting in early April 2023 in Plzeň.
Representing the Elbe Euroregion at the meeting were the vice-chairman of the Elbe Euroregion and mayor of Děčín, Mr. Jiří Anděl, and the director of the Elbe Euroregion, Vladimír Lipský.